PIANO PRINCE OF NEW ORLEANS (Aves INT 146.509 - out of print) - German import

BLUES AND RAGTIME (Aves INT 146.530 - out of print) - German import

Professor Longhair

New Orleans has a great R&B piano tradition, beginning with the late Professor Longhair’s recordings in 1949, and continuing today. Some of the other great R&B pianists playing there today are Alan Toussaint, Jon Cleary, Tom McDermott, Amasa Miller, Eddie Bo, Art Neville, and Davell Crawford. Professor Longhair also influenced and inspired the late James Booker, Dr. John, Huey Smith, Fats Domino, Harry Connick, Jr., and the late Ronnie Barron. For listing of live performances and information on New Orleans music in general, see OFFBEAT MAGAZINE.

(Classics Records [French import]) - Fess’ Mercury Records tracks from 1949 or 1950, and the Atlantic tracks from 1949 and 1953 (the Atlantic also appear on the NEW ORLEANS PIANO recording on Atlantic Records).

THE NEW ORLEANS SESSIONS 1950 (Bear Family Records) – an out of print LP that has Fess’ 1950 Mercury Records tracks from the recording listed just above, plus four alternate takes (as well as tracks by other artists).

COLLECTOR’S CHOICE-FEATURING PROFESSOR LONGHAIR (Rounder Records) – this anthology recording with various artists features 10 tracks by Fess from 1958-1964, including his 1959 hit version of Go To The Mardi Gras, and his 1964 hit versions of Big Chief-Parts 1&2, as well as his first recording of his fast tempo arrangement of his classic composition Hey Now Baby, with the title Cuttin’ Out, and seven other R&B singles from this time period

FESS – THE PROFESSOR LONGHAIR ANTHOLOGY (Rhino Records) – this double CD has Fess’ 1959 hit version of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and his 1964 hit version of Big Chief-Part 2, his great 1957 track Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand, and many other studio and live tracks from other years, and extensive liner notes.

The 1978 live shows recorded at Tipitina’s – many of these tracks have been issued on three different recordings:

THE LAST MARDI GRAS (Atlantic Records) – out of print double LP.

RUM AND COKE (Tomato Records)

BIG CHIEF (Rhino Records)

BALL THE WALL! - LIVE AT TIPITINA’S 1978 (Night Train Records) – a different live show from Tipitina’s in New Orleans

BYRD LIVES! (Night Train Records) – double CD of more live 1978 tracks from Tipitina’s in New Orleans – has Fess’ only recording of the Blues standard After Hours, and has three rare solo tracks

Professor Longhair is featured in the late Stevenson J. Palfi's documentary PIANO PLAYERS RARELY EVER PLAY TOGETHER - Video available from Alligator Video at 1-800-344-5609.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (Fantasy 8431) - the best one is either the older one with 11 tracks or 11 tracks and 1 bonus track , such as Fantasy FCD-697-8341. The newer 2008 edition with bonus tracks (Fantasy FCD-30066-2) has 5 bonus tracks but less good takes of some of the main songs. I recommend the older version or a version with just 1 bonus track of Green Sleeves. For completeness you might consider getting both. There will hopefully be a new edition that encompasses all of this in the future. Also on video.

4. Other Guitarists

Ted Greene was a wonderful guitarist and educator, he was best known for his book Chord Chemistry and for his wonderful recordings of solo guitar that I'm still learning from after hearing it in 1978. Ted's main influences were the last jazz guitarist George Van Eps, Wes Montgomery, Lenny Breau, and many film soundtrack composers such as the late Max Steiner, the late George Duning, and many more. He was also influenced by classical composers such as Bach and Gershwin. Ted played with a deep feeling for every song he played and extending the beauty of those songs with what he called “extended diatonic” harmony, and more.

"Ted played with such pure beauty and feeling, he has influenced and inspired every aspect of my playing since I first heard him in 1977. To this day, everytime I listen to his recording, Solo Guitar, I still hear and learn new things. It is an encyclopedia of beautiful variations. I learned so much and became so motivated each time we talked or got together. He was such a beautiful guy and such a great inspiration to me to be a better person as well as a better musician." - George Winston

Video - IN CONCERT - RALPH TOWNER - solo guitar concert from 1998, with several of the songs from the ANA recording - order from www.acousticmusicresource.com (then go to videos) - or can order from the German site www.acoustic-music.de (then go to catalog; then to Concert Videos)

Ralph has many other great recordings, both as a leader and with the ensamble OREGON.

MAMMA, I'LL BE LONG GONE - THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS OF AMEDE ARDOIN 1929-2934": (Tompkins Square) - all 34 recordings from 1929, 1930, and 1934 of the greatest and most influential of the early Cajun accordionists. All feature Amede’s incredibaly soulful vocals and playing, and 22 of them are duets with the great Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee, and 12 are solo tracks by Amede. Two new tracks that were not issued on the two recordings below are Tout Que Rest C'est Mon Linge, and Sunset. (The Cajun accordion is the same tuning as the standard diatonic harmonica).

The following two recordings have 32 or the 34 tracks Amede recorded, with additional information in the liner notes.